Major US stock indexes finished trading above the zero mark

Major US stock indices rose slightly on Thursday amid positive US data, as well as higher quotations in the core materials sector

The further increase was restrained by the cautiousness of investors on the eve of the meeting of the leaders of the United States and China and the uncertainty about the rapid financial pressure of the United States. President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Jinping are starting their two-day meeting later today, and at the top of the agenda is the possibility of using Trump trade links between the US and China to put pressure on Beijing to curb the military cooperation program with North Korea.

As for the data, the initial claims for unemployment benefits in the US recorded their biggest drop in almost two years last week, indicating further tightening in the labor market. Initial applications for unemployment benefits fell by 25,000 units and, taking into account seasonal fluctuations, reached 234,000 for the week to April 1, the Ministry of Labor said on Thursday. The fall was the largest in the week ending April 25, 2015.

In addition, market participants expect a report on employment in the non-agricultural sector of the US, which will be released on Friday. Current forecasts indicate that in March the number of employed increased by 180 thousand after an increase of 235 thousand in February, while the unemployment rate remained at around 4.7%. Experts note that strong data may force the markets to take into account the possibility of four rate hikes in 2017.

Components of the DOW index finished the session in different directions (17 in positive territory, 13 in negative). Most fell shares Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ, -1.11%). Caterpillar Inc. was the growth leader. (CAT, + 1.66%).

Most sectors of the S & P index showed an increase. The leader of growth was the sector of basic materials (+ 0.6%). The utilities sector fell most of all (-0.3%).

At closing:

DJIA + 0.08% 20.664.79 +16.64

Nasdaq + 0.25% 5,878.95 +14.47

S & P + 0.20% 2.357.58 +4.63